Manchester United youngster Darlington Chichoro Osuchukwu has decided to leave the club to join Athletic Club in Spain.
AS report that the Spanish side have managed to convince the 16-year-old goalkeeper to head back to his homeland, despite Manchester United’s efforts to keep him.
Athletic Club impress
The newspaper explains that, despite a strong history of developing young goalkeepers for Spain, Athletic are determined not to let any signings slip under their radar.
One such player is Darlington Chichoro Osuchukwu. He is a part of Manchester United’s youth academy but has been called up by Spain already, featuring in a U-17 training camp in Alfaz del Pi last year.
He’s already earned attention around Europe, with Borussia Dortmund, Lille, Anderlecht and Copenhagen all showing interest. Manchester United had no intention of letting him go, so confident were they in his potential.
But the youngster has decided to seek a change of scenery. Both he and his family were left impressed by Athletic, particularly their reputation as a history club and its renowned track record in developing goalkeepers.
They see the Spanish side as the best ‘springboard’ for his future. He is now set to sign for them in a few days’ time.
Manchester United exit
The move will mean a return to Spain for the youngster, who was born in Murcia to Nigerian parents. His parents emigrated to England in 2020 for work reasons and the goalkeeper quickly caught the eye of Manchester United.
He signed for them in November 2021 and has gone on to develop ‘at an unstoppable pace’. That development has seen him noticed by Spain, for whom he is a regular in the U17 side. Now he’s set to return to the country of his birth.
He’s already posted a goodbye to Manchester United on social media. He insisted that his time at Old Trafford was a great privilege for him.
“After some unforgettable years at this incredible club, I have taken the difficult decision to take on a new challenge,” he said.
“It is impossible to put into words just how much this club has meant to me. Representing United has been one of the greatest privileges of my young career.”
